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Australian Day 2015

Australian’s all let us rejoice

For we are young and free…

How many of you know the second verse to our national anthem, or even that it actually has 4 verses?

I am really pleased that my kids’ school sings the first 2 verses each assembly.  The younger grades learn it quite fast.  I think I prefer the second verse.  I remember a time when my husband joined me for a school assembly and as he has a wonderful voice he sang our national anthem loud and strong.  A great example to the kids to be proud of our nation.  Anyway, even the kids at the front of the hall were turning around to find out where this strong voice was coming from.  Many eyes turned to us amongst the parents present.

It was a little interesting but I am proud of my husband for singing so well.  One of the teachers commented that it was good to hear another baritone, he is usually the only one there.

Quilting and Australia – we have a plethora of talent in our wonderful country.  Designers, sewists (sewers doesn’t sound good), and of particular interest to me – quilters.Effalump smallIf you go to any state guild and view the quilts, there are so many wonderful quilts and they have been enhanced and made spectacular by the collaboration between the piecer and the quilter.  Seeing the amazing texture and features that can be added by quilting is one of my favourite parts of a quilt show.  How has the quilter made the quilt better with quilting, what have they added to enhance the work done by the piecer?

Our country has award winning quilters, both Australia wide and world wide.  It’s great to see the results of the international quilt shows and seeing the Aussie names there.  Makes me so proud that Australian’s can hold their own in a much larger field of talent.

I can get a little awestruck by the achievements of these talented quilters, but typical to Australian culture, they are the same as you and me.  Regular people who in many cases have a real gift for their craft, but are down to earth and generous with their knowledge as well.

I did get to meet a couple of well known people in the industry at the Australian Machine Quilting Festival last October.  Not Australian but we will forgive them for that. Judi Madsen and Jamie Wallen are both quilters whose work inspires.Judi Madsen smallerJamie Wallen small croppedI hope that on our national holiday you are able to enjoy time with family or friends and perhaps even a BBQ.

Happy Australia Day!  Cheers!

Australian flag

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2 Comments

  1. Hi Cat, yes that’s the verse we sing too. I think you are correct, it’s not necessarily the ‘2nd’ verse. I also look at the guests and non regulars, they struggle with the words.
    We lived for 2 years in New Zealand and the national anthem is sung in Maori then English, that was interesting to learn.
    Hope you had a great day
    Raylee

  2. Great thoughts on being Australian + quilting! – it’s so interesting to read everyone’s different take on it. Our primary school sings the first two verses of Advance Australia Fair at every assembly too – the first verse and then the first that starts “Beneath our radiant southern cross, we’ll toil with hearts and hands … ” – whenever there is a guest on assembly, up on stage, you can always see them look a little horrified when everyone launches into that second verse, as it’s definitely not well known!

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